Nicholls State University vs. Ship

Deciding between Nicholls State University and Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Nicholls State University
Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Nicholls State University Thibodaux, LA
  • Ship Shippensburg, PA
  • Setting
  • Nicholls State University Small City
  • Ship Distant Town
  • Total enrollment
  • Nicholls State University 6,043
  • Ship 5,161
  • Type
  • Nicholls State University Public 4 Year
  • Ship Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Nicholls State University #898
  • Ship #700
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Nicholls State University -
  • Ship -
  • Status
  • Nicholls State University Non-profit
  • Ship Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Nicholls State University
  • Ship
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Nicholls State University $8,149
  • Ship $13,720
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Nicholls State University $9,242
  • Ship $15,974
  • Room & Board
  • Nicholls State University $11,412
  • Ship $13,340
  • Average Net Price
  • Nicholls State University $12,298
  • Ship $23,772
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Nicholls State University $10,392
  • Ship $6,756
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Nicholls State University 89%
  • Ship 90%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Nicholls State University 3,369
  • Ship 7,224
  • Admitted
  • Nicholls State University 3,059
  • Ship 6,249
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Nicholls State University 90.8%
  • Ship 86.5%
  • Enrolled
  • Nicholls State University 35.4%
  • Ship 17.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Nicholls State University 1070
  • Ship 1100
  • Typical ACT score
  • Nicholls State University 21
  • Ship
  • Average High School GPA
  • Nicholls State University 3.34
  • Ship 3.23
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Nicholls State University B+
  • Ship B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • Nicholls State University Easy
  • Ship Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • Nicholls State University
  • Ship
  • ACT Range
  • Nicholls State University 19/24
  • Ship
  • SAT Range
  • Nicholls State University 934/1196
  • Ship 990/1210
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Nicholls State University Required
  • Ship Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Nicholls State University
  • Ship
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Nicholls State University 19:1
  • Ship 18:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Nicholls State University
    • Business (23%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (19%)
    • Health Professions (16%)
    • Education (8%)
    • Personal and Culinary Services (7%)
  • Ship
    • Business (26%)
    • Education (13%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (6%)
    • Social Sciences (6%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Nicholls State University 38%
  • Ship 60%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Nicholls State University $42,600
  • Ship $47,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Nicholls State University 51%
  • Ship 72%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Nicholls State University $19,848
  • Ship $25,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Nicholls State University $205
  • Ship $258
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Nicholls State University 37%
  • Ship 45%
  • % Women
  • Nicholls State University 63%
  • Ship 55%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Nicholls State University Medium
  • Ship Low
  • HBCU
  • Nicholls State University No
  • Ship No
  • % White
  • Nicholls State University 68%
  • Ship 78%
  • % Asian
  • Nicholls State University 1%
  • Ship 1%
  • % Black
  • Nicholls State University 20%
  • Ship 10%
  • % Hispanic
  • Nicholls State University 3%
  • Ship 5%
  • % Native American
  • Nicholls State University 2%
  • Ship 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Nicholls State University 0%
  • Ship 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Nicholls State University 3%
  • Ship 3%
  • % International
  • Nicholls State University 2%
  • Ship 0%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Nicholls State University 1%
  • Ship 1%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Nicholls State University 92%
  • Ship 90%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Nicholls State University 5%
  • Ship 10%
  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Nicholls State University Yes
  • Ship Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Nicholls State University No
  • Ship No
  • Meal Plan
  • Nicholls State University Yes
  • Ship Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Nicholls State University Yes
  • Ship No
  • Daycare Facility
  • Nicholls State University No
  • Ship Yes

Comparable Facts

Compare Nicholls State University in Thibodaux, LA with Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania in Shippensburg, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Nicholls State University is larger than Ship based on total student enrollment (6,043 students vs. 5,161 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Nicholls State University is located in Thibodaux, LA (Small City setting); Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania is in Shippensburg, PA (Distant Town setting).
  • Nicholls State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Nicholls State University 19:1; Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania 18:1.

Nicholls State University vs. Ship Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Nicholls State University or Ship? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Nicholls State University than Ship ($12,298 vs. $23,772).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Nicholls State University are 14.5% lower than at Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania ($11,412 vs. $13,340).
  • Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania is 68.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Nicholls State University (about $5,571 more per year; $13,720.00 vs. $8,149.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 72.8% higher at Ship than at Nicholls State University (about $6,732 more per year; $15,974.00 vs. $9,242.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania than at Nicholls State University (90% vs. 89%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Nicholls State University students is 53.8% larger than aid received by Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania students ($10,392 vs. $6,756).

Nicholls State University vs. Ship Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Nicholls State University or Ship? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Ship and Nicholls State University.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania (1100) is 30 points higher than at Nicholls State University (1070).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Nicholls State University 934/1196; Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania 990/1210.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Nicholls State University 19/24.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Nicholls State University - Required; Ship - Test optional.
  • Accepted freshman Nicholls State University students have a 0.11 point higher average high school GPA (3.34) than students at Ship (3.23).
  • Nicholls State University has a higher acceptance rate (90.8%) than Ship (86.5%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 35.4% at Nicholls State University vs. 17.5% at Ship.

Nicholls State University vs. Ship Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Nicholls State University and Ship? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania's six-year graduation rate (60%) is higher than Nicholls State University's (38%).
  • Graduates from Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania earn a median of about $4,600 more per year than Nicholls State University graduates about ten years after starting college ($47,200 vs. $42,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Nicholls State University graduates have a $5,152 lower median loan debt than Ship graduates ($19,848 vs. $25,000).
  • Among borrowers, Nicholls State University graduates have an estimated $53 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Ship graduates ($205 vs. $258).
  • More Ship graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Nicholls State University students, three years after graduation. (72% vs. 51%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.